Job Sharing: A New Trend in Employment

In this fast paced world permanent job placements have been replaced by several other alternatives. The popularity of these alternatives have been further backed by flexibility of working environment and time factors.  Job sharing is “when two employees literally divide a job between them, and only work a few days a week to cover one full time role” (Totaljobs, 2019).

An example of job sharing is when an employee who is experienced in the care giving industry considers job sharing due to her family commitments. She is no longer able to dedicate her all to the job but she still wants to preserve her career skills and status in her profession. As a job sharer she is now allowed to work from Monday to Wednesday and her partner takes up the job from Thursday onwards.

Benefits of Job Sharing

In instances where talented employees consider early retirement due to work load, employers can offer job sharing to retain them. “Job sharers tend to be more productive and more engaged with their everyday work” (Valchanova, 2017). In instances where one partner leaves the company there is always another who is fully equipped with the required knowledge.

Disadvantages of Job Sharing

“If someone feels as though they are doing all the work and job share partner is not picking up the slack, it can be draining and frustrating for both the employees and employer” (Driver, 2017). Sharing jobs will make it difficult to get promoted leading to dissatisfaction.  Lack of overtime and other benefits for the employee can be a demotivating issue for the employee.

Tips for Effective Job Sharing

Communication is the key to effective job sharing. The two employees need to communicate with one another through emails or phone. Commitment by both the employees is also crucial and the work needs to be fairly divided with clear lines of responsibility. The supervisors on the other hand need to be vigilant and be able to give regular feedback to both employees. He should always be a contact point and be informed about all process at all times. These points ensure that the work done is efficient and seamless.

References

Driver, S. (2017). What Is Job Sharing?. [online] Business News Daily. Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10439-job-sharing-pros-cons.html [Accessed 5 Jun. 2019].

Totaljobs. (2019). Job sharing: a guide | Totaljobs. [online] Available at: https://www.totaljobs.com/advice/job-sharing [Accessed 4 Jun. 2019].

Valchanova, V. (2017). How job sharing can change the future of work. [online] Enhancv. Available at: https://enhancv.com/blog/job-sharing-trends/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2019].